Golden Grammarian visits boatshed

BALLARAT Grammar’s young rowing squad was abuzz with excitement recently as they welcomed a golden Old Grammarian back to their boatshed.

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in the women’s four, Lucy Stephan, dropped into the Vikings Rowing Club with her medal to meet the junior athletes, and check out her former home shed, having graduated from the school in 2009.

“This is where I found rowing and fell in love with rowing,” she said.

“Grammar fosters what you love. Those things for me were art and sport, and they just let me strive for those things, and didn’t try and change me.

“It’s been really special to be here this morning, and share my medal with people who I feel I have a connection with because we’re all from Grammar.”

Young rowers currently transitioning into the school’s senior squad including Ella Flamsteed said Stephan’s story was “inspirational,” considering they have the same sporting opportunities as she did while at the school.

Students watched the television closely as Stephan raced to victory on the morning of Wednesday, 28 July on Sea Forest Waterway.

Stephan, Jess Morrison, Annabelle McIntyre and Rosie Popa conquered silver medallists the Netherlands and bronze medallists Ireland in an Olympic best time of 6:15:37, putting Australian women’s rowing in the spotlight.

“It’s motivational, and it shows us what we can achieve,” Ella said.

Stephan said juggling school and sport can be a “fast-paced” challenge, but encourages young people to set themselves goals if they have big dreams.

“The first year I rowed, my goal was to win Head of the Lake in the open thirds, and we didn’t do that, but the next year, I wanted to make the firsts and win Head of the Lake, and we did,” she said.

“That was the first time I’d gone after something that I wanted, not doing it for anyone else.

“It was up to me to attack that goal, and for the young girls rowing now, it’s up to them if they want to do this too.”

The newest boat in Grammar’s girls racing fleet, the ‘Lucy Stephan,’ was christened outside the Boatshed restaurant later in the day by Stephan, before a celebratory dinner.

Stephan continues to train, with sights on the Paris Olympics. She coaches at Scotch College, for Rowhaus, and works for athletic apparel brand 776BC.